Will U Visa be eliminated?

One of the most frequent questions in my office this week is whether the new president will cancel the benefit for victims of serious crimes, better known as the U Visa. The brief response is “no.”

Trump cannot, by unilateral action, eliminate the U Visa; since it is part of a law that was approved by congress in 2000 and signed into federal statute by President Bill Clinton.

To dismantle the U Visa, both congressional chambers (the Senate and the House of Representatives) would have to pass bills canceling the U Visa, and Trump would have to sign that into law.

For now, we don’t know what the new administration’s priorities will be regarding immigration, because the president-elect often says one thing, then the opposite. What we do know is that it’s very important to be aware and informed of any changes.

If you have questions, contact an attorney, and DON’T get carried away by rumors.